GuillermoTorres
The invasions took place between 1806 and 1807
Britain attempts to seize control of the Spanish colonies located around the La Plata Basin
The invasions were in two phases
1. The British Army occupied Buenos Aires for 46 days in 1806
2. A second force occupied Montevideo, following the Battle of Montevideo in 1807
The resistance of the local people and their active participation in the defence of the city
No support from the Spanish Kingdom
The May Revolution in 1810
The Argentine Declaration of Independence in 1816.
The South Sea Company was granted trading concessions in South America in the time of Queen Anne, under the Treaty of Utrecht.
The British had long harboured ambitions in South America, considering the estuary of the Río de la Plata as the most favourable location for a British colony
The La Plata Basin, scene of the British invasions in 1806 and 1807.
In May 1804 William Pitt was in charge of the British Government
Napoleon was the Emperor of the French Empire
William Pitt claimed that Napoleon and his Empire should be destroyed to restore the balance in Europe William Pitt
Napoleon decided to invade Britain, but his plan failed
The French and Spanish were defeated in the Battle of Trafalgar
England would have absolute control of the seas
A British force commanded by Lieutenant-General David Baird and Admiral Sir Home Popham took the Dutch colony of the Cape of Good Hope in 1805
Admiral Sir Home Popham
The following year, a smaller British force of 1,500 men under Colonel William Carr Beresford was sent across the South Atlantic to invade the Plata region, departing on 14 April 1806 .
Colonel William Carr Beresford
The Spanish Viceroy, Marquis Rafael de Sobremonte, had asked the Spanish Crown for reinforcements many times, but no new men arrived
It was suggested that he should arm the city residents of Buenos Aires to form a militia, but he was reluctant to give weapons to the population. Sobremonte
The British landed on Quilmes, near Buenos Aires, on June 25, 1806
They reached and occupied Buenos Aires on the 27 June.
The Viceroy fled to Córdoba Province with the city's treasure
The British forces took it away from him during his escape.
Buenos Aires was held under British domain during 46 days
The residents of the city feared becoming a British colony
Beresford decided to decree free commerce and reduction of port taxes
This measure displeased the merchants
French marine officer Santiago de Liniers y Bremond, in service to the Spanish Crown, organised the re-conquest of Buenos Aires from Montevideo, with help of the city governor Ruiz Huidobro. Also of importance was the participation of Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, chief of the urban militias.
Santiago de Liniers
On August 4, 1806, Liniers landed at Las Conchas, north of Buenos Aires
He advanced with a mixed force of Buenos Aires line troops and Montevideo Militia toward the city
After two days of fighting, Beresford surrendered
Two days later, the government at the Buenos Aires Cabildo named Liniers military and political chief of the city.
Liniers
Militias were formed by the Spanish and criollos
The creation of such local forces created concern within the Spanish elite, fearful of an attempt of secession from the Spanish Crown.
As a result
The Patricios
Compañía de Granaderos de Infantería o Provinciales
Húsares
The Arribeños Pardos and Morenos
Militia porteñaSeñora porteña
Indio on horse
On February 3, 1807, Montevideo was captured in a joint military and naval operation using British reinforcements of 8,000 men under General Sir Samuel Auchmuty and a naval squadron under Admiral Sir Charles Stirling.
On 10 May, Lieutenant-General John Whitelocke arrived in Montevideo to take overall command of the British forces on the Río de la Plata.
He landed on June 27.
John Whitelocke
On July 1, Liniers was defeated in the environs of the city
Whitelocke did not attempt to enter the city, but twice demanded the city's surrender.
Buenos Aires' mayor Martín de Álzaga organised the defence of the city by digging trenches, fortifying buildings and erecting fences with great popular support
Whitelocke resolved to attack Buenos Aires
He divided his army into 12 columns and advanced without the protection of the artillery
His army was met on the streets by a determined militia, and fighting continued on the streets of Buenos Aires on 4 July and 5 July.
Whitelocke underestimated the importance of urban combat, in which the inhabitants of the city overwhelmed the British troops.
the British controlled Retiro but the city's centre was still in the hands of the defenders, and the invaders were demoralized.
At this point, a Spanish counter-attack defeated many important British commanders
Whitelocke proposed a 24-hour truce, which was rejected by Liniers, who ordered an artillery attack.
Whitelocke signed a ceasefire with Liniers on 12 August.
He left the Río de la Plata basin taking with him the British forces in Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Colonia.
he was court-martialed and cashiered, mainly for surrendering Montevideo
Liniers was later named Viceroy of the Río de la Plata by the Spanish Crown
He left the Río de la Plata basin taking with him the British forces in Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Colonia.
The people of Buenos Aires became concious that they had to fight the British invasions by themselves, with little help from the Spanish Crown, and given the Spanish King was captured by Napoleón, the idea of independence from Spain grew stronger. Less than 3 years after the second invasion, the May Revolution took place in 1810, as a prelude to the Declaration of Independence of Argentina of 1816.
Treasures of war
Re-conquest of “La Virgen del Rosario”
2006: Two hundred years later
Map of Buenos Aires
William Pitt and Napoleon
Beresford
Flags
And
Ships
Soldado PatricioBritish soldier
Spanish Ship
www. en.wikipedia.org
Sebastian´s Pride – Wilkinson, Susan
Cronista Mayor de Buenos Aires – Núm 54 Año 8 Buenos Aires julio 2006
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